TGI Fridays Has 7 New Cocktails—Here’s a Food Editor & Former Bartender’s Ranking

• What’s In It: Hennessy V.S., Grand Marnier, sour, strawberry purée

I’m a total sucker for strawberry, so I was psyched to sip this fruity number. While it was tasty (and notably strong), the strawberry got a bit lost in the drink’s other components. However, the cognac still delivered a lush complexity I enjoyed, and it made for a smooth, sweet overall flavor.

• What’s In It: Patrón silver tequila, blue Curaçao, lime juice, passion fruit, Red Bull Tropical

Is it just me or is it nearly impossible not to be tempted by a blue drink? I found this tropical number to be very mango-forward, citrusy and easy to nurse. If you prefer not to taste the booze in your summer cocktails, this pick is for you. It was also heavily caffeinated and effervescent, making it energizing and doubly refreshing.

• What’s In It: Bacardí Gold, Chambord, passion fruit, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine

I found this pick to taste sort of like a less syrupy Mai Tai (not the O.G. kind, but the grenadine-heavy, amaretto-kissed kind). It was very fruity and pineapple-y, and delicately balanced between sweet and sour, thanks to a mélange of juices and sweet, colorful Chambord (that’s a black raspberry liqueur, FYI).

• What’s In It: Tito’s vodka, lemonade, Owen’s Transfusion Mix (a non-alcoholic mixer made with grape juice and ginger ale)

I’d never had a cocktail that used grape juice as the base, but it turned out to be quite tasty. Its sweet-and-sour nature played beautifully with the tart lemonade and neutral spirit, making for a flavor that reminded me of Smarties or another mouth-puckering candy. It was citrusy and refreshing but still leaned sweet and berry-forward.

• What’s In It: Smirnoff vodka, New Amsterdam gin, Captain Morgan spiced rum, Grand Marnier, lemonade, Coca-Cola

If the goal is to get lit, you already know the LIT (that’s a Long Island iced tea) is the answer. While the drink is often thought of as swill for your early 20s, it’s actually quite enjoyable when made with the right balance of ingredients. Think of this one as an extra-citrusy take on the O.G. It had a slightly syrupy consistency but wasn’t cloying or heavy. The lemonade’s fresh edge, combined with a splash of cola and a flurry of spirits, tasted like lemon iced tea with a kick.

• What’s In It: Patrón silver tequila, agave sour, Grand Marnier, half-salt rim, lime squeeze

Yup, as it turns out, you can’t go wrong with the classic. And at chain restaurants like TGI Fridays, Applebee’s and Chili’s, the margarita is the epitome of an essential cocktail. This one was very balanced and tasted like it was made with house sour or fresh citrus rather than a syrupy, bottled mix. The 50/50 split between sweet and tart made this a drink I was eager to take another sip of. Sure, they didn’t reinvent the wheel, but has a salty marg ever steered you wrong? (OK, maybe don’t answer that.)